Music runs through Raheem DeVaughn’s veins. The son of a jazz cellist, Abdul Wadul, The Love King, as he’s so boldly addressed via Twitter has enjoyed much success. His debut album, The Love Experience, was No. 46 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The three-time Grammy nominee and three-time BET Award winner won the heart and ear of women with the single, “Woman.” It was with the socially conscious single, “Bulletproof” which featured Ludacris, that solidified his status as an heir to soul singer Marvin Gaye’s throne.
What can we expect from your new album ‘A Place Called Loveland’?
It’s an eclectic ride, orgasmic roller coaster of emotions. This album is what you would call a relationship think tank album, very reminiscent of my second album, ‘Love Behind The Melody.’ I kind of walked away from the pulpit temporarily to take it back to love and to the bedroom. I think this album is going to show my growth as a singer, where I am vocally, and as a song writer. It will help me in my ability to open up and work with other people.
How does this album relate to people and their everyday lives?
I think that love is one of the unsolved mysteries of the universe, it’s something that we all strive to find. That love connection we all want it even if it’s for a lifetime or a moment. That’s where I come in as a ‘love king’ as far providing that soundtrack whether it’s a platonic relationship or intimacy just creating that soundtrack for that moment.
Why did you lead with the first single ‘Love Connection’?
Being a self appointed love king, it took me sometime to figure out how the brothers and the sisters really rock with me, because I create that love connection for them musically. What better way to do that than to give them that anthem. We picked this single in particular because it’s up-tempo. Now that the weather is breaking, the timing is perfect for a song like this.
Do you feel like love is missing in today’s music?
I don’t feel like love is missing from today’s music, I don’t feel like R&B is dead. I feel like my sound and what I contribute to the game has been missing and it feels good to be back. I feel like I’ve been missed; I feel like people have been waiting on it. The story can get bigger, it’s a lot of people who still don’t know who Raheem DeVaughn is or they know the music but they don’t necessarily know the man. I think more people know my name but don’t know what I look like, it’s interesting I would go to a club and I’m pretty low key and my name would get dropped and then people are treating me a totally different way. – necorey johnson
